A South Korean court on Friday sentenced the nation’s impeached former president, Yoon Suk Yeol, to five years in prison for his role in the failed 2024 martial law declaration.
The ruling marks the first verdict in a series of four trials stemming from the short-lived decree that sparked nationwide chaos and massive protests.
Yoon was found guilty of abuse of power, obstructing justice, and the falsification of official documents. During the proceedings, the judge noted that Yoon had “consistently shown no remorse” for actions that cast the country into a severe political crisis.
The court specifically highlighted his use of presidential bodyguards to hinder his arrest, his failure to consult the full cabinet before the decree, and the creation and subsequent destruction of a forged document claiming the Prime Minister and Defense Minister had endorsed the move.
“The accused had a duty to uphold the constitution and the law but instead chose to disregard them,” the judge remarked during the sentencing.
While prosecutors had originally sought a 10-year term for these specific charges, the court settled on five years. However, Yoon faces even more significant legal peril in his upcoming trials, most notably an insurrection charge for which prosecutors are seeking the death penalty. A verdict for that trial is anticipated in February.
Throughout the trial, the former president maintained his innocence, arguing that his arrest warrant was illegitimate and that the law did not strictly require him to consult every cabinet member during an emergency.
He further contended that investigators lacked the legal standing to probe his actions, asserting there were no procedural errors in his declaration.
The sentencing has laid bare the deep political fractures within South Korean society.
Outside the courthouse, approximately 100 supporters gathered to watch a livestream of the trial, some waving banners and shouting at the judge as the guilty verdict was read.
Despite the massive protests that originally forced him from power, a December survey indicated that nearly 30% of South Koreans did not view his actions as an insurrection, with many supporters continuing to view him as a martyr.
Historically, South Korean courts have shown leniency to defendants who admit guilt, but prosecutors argued that Yoon’s refusal to accept responsibility necessitated a harsher penalty. Yoon is the first former leader to be jailed since Park Geun-hye, who was sentenced to 20 years in 2021 before receiving a pardon.
In the wake of the 2024 turmoil, voters decisively elected opposition leader Lee Jae Myung as his successor. Both the defense and the prosecution now have seven days to appeal Friday’s ruling.
